Scraper elevator adjustment



Sept. 9, .1969 J. E. HANCOCK 3,465,

SCRAPER ELEVATOR ADJUSTMENT Filed April 12. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

IN VEN'TOR JAMES E. HANCOCK Wan/it ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1969 J. E. HANCOCK 3,465,454

SCRAPER ELEVATOR ADJUSTMENT Filed April 12, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet? FIG. 5

INVENTOR JAMES E. HANCOCK Q MZ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,465,454 SCRAPER ELEVATOR ADJUSTMENT James E. Hancock, Lubbock, Tex., assignor to Declark, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 12, 1967, Ser.No. 630,274 Int. Cl. E02f 3/14, 3/08 U.S. Cl. 37-8 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjusting mechanism for changing the normal operating position of the lower end of the elevator of an elevating scraper. Releasable latching means are included for holding and adjusting block in a selected location, which determines the normal operating position, while the location of the adjusting block can be readily changed by operating the scraper in dirt to cause the elevator to move away from the adjusting block.

Background of the invention The ability readily to adjust the normal operating position of the lower end of the elevator of an elevating scraper is important, in order to be able to adapt the elevating scraper readily to the loading of various types of dirt and other materials. In order to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness in the loading of various types of materials it is important to be able readily to change the normal spacing between the elevator and the cutting edge of the scraper because different types of materials require different spacing for best performance.

As an example of arrangements which have been used previously for this purpose reference is made to U.S. Patent 2,984,022 Johnson in which stop elements 88 (one on each side) are bolted to the interior of the sidewalls, such stop elements 88 being provided with several series of bolt-receiving holes 90 so that they can be adjustably positioned on the sidewalls to vary the distance between the conveyor and the blade. It will be appreciated, however, that to change the position of such a stop requires the use of tools. Moreover, under some circumstances the operator of a vehicle of this type is not permitted to perform any adjustments or repairs on the vehicle which require the use of tools, but must get another person to make such adjustments or repairs, which entails further delay and difficulty.

Summary of the invention In carrying out this invention in one form thereof, I provide an adjustment block which is arranged to be moved along the upper surface of a frame member of the elevating scraper. Releasable latching means are provided between the adjusting block and the frame member so that when the elevator is moved away from the latching block by operating the elevator into dirt or other material the adjusting block can be readily moved to a different location to provide a different normal operating position for the elevator.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an elevating scraper embodying the present invention in a preferred form thereof, in the carrying position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the adjusting mechanism in one position thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the adjusting mechanism in another position thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the adjusting mechanism in the third position thereof;

3,465,454 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 Description of the preferred embodiment The numeral 10 in FIG. 1, and in FIGS. 5 and 6, designates generally an elevating scraper which is illustrated in the form of the trailer portion of an articulated vehicle, the tractor portion of which is not shown. The elevating scraper is for loading, transporting and unloading earth and other material, and includes a main bowl or box portion 12 having a cutting edge 14 at the lower front, and endless chain elevator 16 for moving material upwardly and rearwardly into the box portion. The elevator 16 is operated clockwise as viewed on the drawing, and in the particular elevating scraper illustrated it is driven by means of a power takeoff from the engine of the tractor, which through other interconnecting shafts drives shaft 17 which drives the elevator through gear reduction box 19. Other parts include a yoke 18 (only a portion of which is visible) for connecting the elevating scraper to the tractor, and a pair of rubber-tired wheels 20 (only one of which is visible) mounted at the outer ends of a rear axle; these are the rear wheels and in conjunction with front wheels on the tractor portion provide for movement of the vehicle.

In FIG. 1 the elevating scraper 10 is shown in the carrying condition, that is, the condition in which it is put for transport after a load has been obtained in the box. To operate the elevating scraper 10 to load dirt into the box thereof the elevating scraper is put in the condition illustrated in FIG. 5 by extension of the actuators 22 (see FIG. 1) to engage the cutting edge with the ground. This is done in a known manner by the operator located on the tractor portion of the vehicle. Then the levating scraper is drawn forwardly, that is, toward the right in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawing, which forces dirt upon the cutting blade 14 whereupon the forward motion of the vehicle and the action of elevator 16 turning clockwise combine to move the dirt upwardly and rearwardly into the box 12. The elevator or conveyor 16 has a floating type connection to the box, that is, it is connected at the upper end by pivotable links or arms 24, one at each side of the machine, and at the bottom by pivotable links or arms 26, one at each side of the machine. This provides a floating connection which makes it possible for the elevator to rise up over rocks and other obstructions encountered during operation of the elevating scraper. For a more detailed explanation of the operation of the elevator reference is made to Patent 2,791,041, Hancock, wherein such an elevator mechanism is disclosed in detail and claimed. It will be understood that after the elevator has been raised by a rock or other obstruction it returns by gravity to its normal operating position. It will also be understood that the present invention is not limited to a scraper having an elevator with the particular floating type connection described and illustrated herein but may be used as well on other elevating scrapers in which the lower end of the elevator is arranged to rise to clear rocks and other obstructions.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that it is desirable to vary the spacing between the elevator 16 and the cutting edge 14 depending upon the type of dirt or other material being loaded, and this spacing has been indicated by the numeral 28 in FIG. 1. The present invention provides a mechanism and method for readily adjusting this spacing without requiring the use of any tools. The adjusting mechanism which makes this possible is indicated generally by the numeral 30 in FIG. 1, and is shown in greater detatil in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

The adjusting mechanism 30 includes a portion of one of the frame members of the elevating scraper, that is, a slanting frame member which is located at the front of the box portion 12, and such portion of the frame member is indicated by the numeral 32 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. It will be understood that while the following detailed description of the adjusting mechanism refers only to the right side of the vehicle, that there is preferably another allochirally related adjusting mechanism on the opposite side of the box.

Along the outer edge of member 32 and extending upwardly therefrom is a flange-like projection 34. This may be a fiat piece of metal welded to frame member portion 32. Projection 34 has therein a cutout portion 36 which includes three downwardly extending notch portions 38.

An adjusting block 40 is located just inside of projection 34 and rests on the upper surface of frame member 32. A detent member 42 projects outwardly from adjusting block 40 and projects through one of the said notches 38. A retainer 44 is provided at the outer end of detent member 42 to retain adjusting block 40 in position on the upper surface of frame member 32. Adjusting block 40 as illustrated provides three steps which are indicated respectively by the numerals 46, 47 and 48. It would be possible, of course, to have more steps, if desired.

The normal operating position of the elevator 16 is determined by the position of adjusting block 40, by virtue of a foot member 50 which is connected to the pivot shaft for link 26 and arranged to rest on one of the aforementioned step portions. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, foot member 50 is resting on upper step 46, and in this situation the normal spacing 28 between the elevator and the cutting edge is the maximum. In FIG. 3 the foot member 50 is resting on the intermediate step 47 and in this condition the spacing 28 is of intermediate scope. In FIG. 4 the foot member 50 is resting on the third step 48 and in this case the spacing 28 is the minimum.

To adjust the normal operating position of adjusting block 40 from one position to another, it is necessary only to operate the elevating scraper in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6, that is, to cause such a large accumulation of dirt between the cutting edge 14 and the elevator that the elevator is raised away from adjusting block 40. Then it is possible to change the position of adjusting block 40 merely by raising it by hand sufficiently to raise it out of whatever notch 38 in which it may be positioned and change it to another notch. Thereafter, the elevating scraper is operated to restore the elevator to its normal lowered position, as by retracting the actuators 22 to raise the cutting edge 14 out of the ground and discharge at least a portion of the dirt in the space between the cutting edge and the elevator. Then the elevating scraper may be operated in the normal manner with the lower end of the elevator in the newly adjusted position suitable for the material to be handled.

I claim:

1. An adjusting mechanism for adjusting the normal operating position of the lower end of the elevator of an elevating scraper, the adjusting mechanism comprising a frame member having a planar upper surface, an adjusting block located on the said upper surface and supporting the lower part of the elevator, means for raising the elevator off the said adjusting block, releasable latching means holding the said adjusting block in a selected position on the said frame member, the said releasable means comprising a notched member having a plurality of notches therein and carried by the said frame member, the said releasable latching means permitting movement of the said adjusting block to another position when the elevator is raised off the said adjusting block, and a detent carried by the said adjusting block and engageable selectively in the said notches.

2. An adjusting mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the said adjusting block is provided with steps at Varying heights from the planar surface of the said frame member.

3. An adjusting mechanism as specified in claim 2 in which all of the elements except the elevator are located on one side of the elevating scraper and similar elements except the elevator are located in allochiral relation on the other side of the scraper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,598,880 6/1952 Beldin 248l6 2,984,022 5/1961 Johnson 37-8 3,041,023 6/1962 Odlum et al. 24816 3,335,888 8/1967 Kugler 37-8 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner EUGENE H. EICKHOLT, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 24816 

